Saturday
THE STORY OF NEW WAVE
Radio 2, 8.30pm
Matthew Wright begins a three-week history of the music that followed punk — a less aggressive but nonetheless spiky creation that Seymour Stein, the head of the record label Sire, christened “new wave”. Stand by for lots of talk from those who can still remember the 1970s and some banging tracks from Blondie and co.
Sunday
SUNDAY HALF HOUR
Radio 2, 8.30pm
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Immortality beckons from an unusual quarter — the Rev Roger Royle invites entries in a competition organised by Sunday Half Hour and local radio stations to come up with new and exciting hymns (which, let’s face it, are desperately needed; why should the Devil continue to have the best tunes?). Entries to www.bbc.co.uk/religion.
Monday
STAGE AND SCREEN: LEGENDS
Radio 3, 4pm
Love him or loathe him, there is no denying that Andrew Lloyd Webber has been a success at his chosen career. As his lordship enjoys the achievement of his Phantom of the Opera overtaking his Cats as the longest-running musical in Broadway history, Edward Seckerson begins a two-part interview-cum-retrospective.
Tuesday
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READY STEADY GO!
Radio 2, 8.30pm
Subtitled The Weekend Starts Here, after the Friday night programme’s catchphrase, this history of the TV pop show that became the blueprint for practically all TV pop shows — despite itself lasting a mere three years, until 1966 — is presented by someone who was a much-loved RSG! regular, the barefoot chantoozy Sandie Shaw.
Wednesday
BACKSTAGE AT THE BRIT AWARDS
Radio 1, 1pm
Coverage of British pop music’s big night out gets more comprehensive every year. Edith Bowman starts the ball rolling on Radio 1, then at 4pm Scott Mills takes over. Those keen on keeping their involvement backstage are then invited to retune to Radio 2 from 9pm, when Dermot O’Leary will be waiting with his All Areas pass.
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Thursday
CROSSING CONTINENTS
Radio 4, 11am
In a timely report, given President Bush’s recent exhortation to his fellow Americans to use less petrol, Julian Pettifer reports on how right-wing Christians and big businessmen have become the latest soldiers in the environmentalist cause, leading to them sharing a bizarre ideological bed with old hippies such as country great Willie Nelson.
Friday
HEP TO THE JIVE
Radio 2, 7pm
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Yes, it’s the Cab Calloway Story, told by Clarke Peters — no stranger to narrating these tributes to the music-makers of a more glamorous era — over the next four weeks. Calloway was not just a top bandleader, actor and singer but the compiler of the Hepster’s Dictionary and inventor of the zoot suit. Twenty-three skidoo, as they say.